Forceps and the like.



No. 804,229. PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905. T. C. HUTGHINSON.

FORGEPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i 7 4. i -ii PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

7 T.'G. HUTOHINSON. FOROEPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT- oFFIoE.

THOMAS C. HUTOHINSON, OF DECORAH, IOWA.

FQRCEPS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov. 14, 1905.

Application filed July 27, 1904. Serial No. 218,435.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTHoMAs C. HUTOHINSON, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Decorah, in the county of Winneshiek and Stateof Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forcepsand the Like, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to that class of devices known as pincers, andparticularly that class of pincers known as pliers or forceps, and withslight modifications it may be readily employed for any of the manypurposes to which that class of devices is particularly adapted.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple and effective deviceof the kind described, in which the opposing jaws may be closed upon anobject with any desired pressure and at the same time be under thecontrol of the operator. It may also be constructed to automaticallylock when closed to the desired point, so that in the subsequentmanipulation of the instrument by the operator the pressure will not bevaried or inadvertently increased or diminished, while at the same timethe pressure may be readily modified as desired.

To this end invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement,and combination of parts herein shown and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,wherein like or similar referencecharacters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan viewof my device as applied to dentists forceps. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an enlargedpartial section of my device, taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.Fig. i is a similar section of the entire device, showing the positionof the parts with the jaws or beaks open. Fig. 5 is a section similar toFig. 4, showing the position of the parts with the jaws closed. Fig. 6is a side elevation of my device with one form of dentists beaks inplace. Fig. 7is an enlarged partial section of the preferred form of mydevice, taken substantially on line 7 7 of Fig. 3; and Figs. 8, 9, and10 are detail views of some of the types of jaws or beaks with which mydevice may be advantageously equipped.

In the preferred form of my device shown in the drawings, 1 is a stockor frame of the tool, provided with opposing arms or levers siredadjusted position.

2 2, pivotally connected to the frame 1 near one end thereof, as at 3 3in Figs. 4 and 5. As thus connected at a point between their ends oneend of the arms extend into the stock, as shown, while the other endextends outward and forms a gripping or working portion of the tool.able wedge-bar positioned in the opposite end of the stock and havingone end positioned between the ends 5 5 of the arms 2. It will beobvious that upon pressing the wedge-bar toward the jaws or arms theinner ends of the arms will be pressed apart, while the outer ends willbe forced toward one another. In the preferred form the inner end of thewedgebar is wedge-shaped,the ends of the arms being correspondinglyformed to cooperate therewith. Any preferred means may be employed formanipulating the wedge-bar 4. Thus it may be operated and maintained bythe grip of the operator alone, or it may be supplied with means formaintaining the parts in any de- As shown in the drawings, 6 and 7 aresuitable guides for the bar 4:, and a spring 8 is provided to normallyhold the bar resiliently in its outer position. The spring 8 ispreferably arranged within the stock with one end bearing against theguide 6 and its other end bearing against a collar 9, pinned to the bar4, or equivalent means provided for the same purpose. In

the preferred form means are also provided to limit the outward movementof the bar. As shown, the collar 9 performs this function by contactingwith a suitable shoulder formed on the inner face of the stock for thatpurpose or equivalent means. The outer end of the bar 4 is formed toconveniently fit the palm of the hand. As shown, it is provided with ahead 10 for that purpose, which serves as a convenience in operating thedevice.

In the preferred form of my device I provide a locking device forholding the bar 4 in any adjusted position. This preferably consists ofa lever 11, pivoted upon the stock 1 at 12 and having an opening throughwhich the bar 4 slides freely when the lever 11 is substantially atright angles to the bar; but when the free end of the lever isresiliently pressed outward, as by the spring 1 L, it will cramp uponthe sides of the bar and automatically lock the same from any outwardmovement by the well-known cramping action, yet leaving it perfectlyfree to be moved inward. To release the bar 4 from the look, a suitableoperating-button 15 is connected to A is a longitudinally-movthe freeend of the lever 11 by the rod'16, and by moving the free end of thelever inward it is prevented from cramping upon the bar 4:, leaving thesame free to be moved outward by the spring 8 as far as necessary.

In the preferred form of my device the arms 2 are arranged to beremovable, so that one stock may be supplied with any desired number ofarms having their outer ends formed for special purposes, if desired,and to this end the pivotal supports of the arms 2 in the stock 1 at 3are specially formed in any preferred manner. As shown, they are formedby providing a hook-shaped recess at either side of the stock to looselyengage suitable bosses formed .upon the arms. To remove an arm from thestock, it is only necessary to first move the arm inward until the bossis beyond the point of the hook, when it can be moved toward the centerand readily taken out. To resiliently hold the arm-bosses in the recessin the stock, and also to bring the ends 5 of the arms together when thebar 4: is in its outer position, a block 17 is providedwith inclinedfaces 18 18, arranged to be pressed against the ends of the arms 2 bythe spring 19, one end of which bears against the guide 6 and the otherend against the block'17 which is preferably located in a recess 20, sothat when the arms are both removed from the stock the block 17 cannotfall out of place.

In the drawings and foregoing description my device is shown with arms,which are removable from the stock; but it is obvious that if preferredthe arms may be permanently fixed within the stock without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

In Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 I have shown my device equipped with arms orbeaks especially adaptedfor the use of dentists in the extraction ofteeth. Also in Fig. 8 another form of arm or beak is shown designed forthe same purpose. In Fig. 9 an arm is shown adapted to be used as acommon plier, and in Fig. 10 arms adapting my device to be used as awrench are shown. It is evident that arms may be formed for any desiredpurpose and be either permanently fixed in a stock or arranged to beused interchangeably with others, as desired.

Inthe foregoing description the operation of my device is explained anda further description is deemed unnecessary.

It is obvious that my device may be employed for graspingatoolsuch, forexample, as a screw-driver or the like-and, if desired, the powerexerted to set the jaws of the device may be supplemented by suitablemechanism for that purpose.

In the specification I have described only the preferred form of mydevice, and it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may bemade without in the least departing from the spirit of my invention.Hence'I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactform and construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the kind'described, comprising a stock, a pair ofopposing arms pivot ally and detachably supported upon said stock nearone end thereof by means of bosses formed upon the arms at a pointbetween their ends engaging with inwardly-opening hook-shaped recessesformed in saidstock, and a movable block resiliently pressed against theinner ends of said arms, tending to prevent the disengagement of the'arms from said stock, in combination with means for controlling thelateral movements of the arms.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, and a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near'one end thereof, in combination with alongitudinally-slidable wedgebar having one end positioned between theinner ends of said arms and means for sliding said bar, whereby uponoperating the wedgebar the outer ends of "the arms will bejorced towardeach other.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising astock, and a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, in combination with alon'gitudinally-slidable bar partly contained within the stock andhaving one end positioned between the inner ends of the arms and theother end projecting from the stock, whereby upon sliding said barinward the inner ends of the arms are forced apart and the outer or freeends are forced toward each other.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, and a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, in combination with alongitudinally=movable wedgebar partly contained within the stock, and aspring arranged upon said bar tending to normally force the bar outward,the inner end of said bar being positioned'between the-inner ends ofsaid arms, whereby upon forcing the bar inward the inner ends of thearms are forced apart and the outer ends are forced toward each other.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock and a pair ofopposing arms-pivotally supported at'a point-between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, in combination with alongitudinally-movable wedgebar partly contained in said stock, a stopto limit the outward movement of said bar, and a spring'arranged toresiliently force said bar outward, the inner end of said bar beingpositioned between the inner ends of said arms, whereby upon forcing thebarinward the inner ends of thearms are'forced apart and the outer endsare forced toward'each other.

Ioo

A device of the kind described, comprisreleasing said bar from saidlock, the inner end of said bar being positioned between the inner endsof said arms, whereby upon forcing the bar inward the inner ends of thearms are forced apart and the outer ends are forced toward each other.

7. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, and a movable block resiliently pressedagainst the inner ends of the arms presenting an inclined surface toeach arm, whereby the arms are pressed longitudinally of the stock andtheir inner ends are pressed toward each other, in combination with alongitudinally-movable wedge-bar partly contained within the stock,having one end positioned between'the inner ends of said arms wherebyupon forcing said bar inward the inner ends of the arms are forced apartand the outer ends are forced toward each other.

8. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, and a movable block resiliently pressedagainst the inner ends of the arms provided with an inclined surfacecontacting with the outer face on the end of each arm, whereby the armsare normally pressed longitudinally of the stock and their inner endsare pressed toward each other, in combination with alongitudinally-movable wedge-bar partly contained within the stock, anda spring arranged to force said bar outward, the inner end of said barbeing positioned between the inner ends of said arms, whereby uponforcing the bar inward the inner ends of the arms are forced apart andthe outer ends are forced toward each other, and upon retracting the barthe arms will assume the reverse position.

9. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, ahd a movable block resiliently pressedagainst theinner ends of the arms, presenting an inclined surface to theouter face on the end of each arm, whereby the arms are normally pressedlongitudinally of the stock and their inner ends are pressed toward eachother, in combination with a longitudinallymovable wedgebar partlycontained within the stock, a stop to limit the outward movement of saidbar, and a spring arranged to normally force said bar resilientlyoutward, the inner end of said bar being positioned between the innerends of said arms whereby upon forcing the bar inward the inner ends ofthe arms are forced apart and the outer ends are forced toward eachother, and upon releasing said bar the arms will assume the reverseposition,

10. A device of the kind described, com prising a stock, a pair ofopposing arms pivotally supported at a point between their ends uponsaid stock near one end thereof, and a movable block resiliently pressedagainst the inner ends of the arms, presenting an inclined surface tothe outer face on the end of each arm, whereby the arms are normallypressed longitudinally of the stock and their inner; ends are pressedtoward each other, in combination with a longitudinally movable wedgebar partly contained within the stock, a stop to limit the outwardmovement of said bar, a spring arranged upon said bar to resilientlyforce the same outward, an automatic lock arranged to engage and retainsaid bar in any desired position and prevent its outward movement, andmeans for releasingsaid bar from said lock, the inner end of the barbeing positioned between the ends of said arms, whereby upon forcing thebar inward the inner ends of the arms'are forced apart and the outerends are forced toward each other, and temporarily locked in suchposition, and upon releasing the lock the parts will automaticallyassume their normal positions.

11. In a device of the kind described, the stock provided with shouldersnear one end thereof for pivotally and detachably engaging a pair ofopposing members therewith, in combination with a pair of opposinglevers adapted to be positioned within the stock provided with meansbetween their ends for pivotally and detachably engaging .saidshoulders, and means for controlling the movement of the inner ends ofthe levers.

12. In a device of the kind described, an arm provided with a bossformed at a point between its ends, adapted to cooperate with a recessformed in a stock for pivotally and detachably engaging said arm ,withsaid stock.

13. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, and a pair ofarms pivotally supported at a point between their ends near one end ofthe stock and detachable therefrom, in combination with a longitudinally'-movable wedge-bar positioned in the other end of the stock with itsinner end between the inner ends of the arms whereby upon forcing saidbar inward the inner ends of the arms are forced apart and the outer orfree ends are forced toward each other.

upon the arms at a point between their endsengaging withinwardly-openinghook-shaped recesses formed in said stock, and a movableblock resiliently pressed against the inner ends of said arms, tendingto prevent the disengagement of the arms from said stock, in combinationwith a longitudinally-movable wedge-bar partly contained within thestock, with its inner end positioned to slide between the inner ends ofsaid arms, and a spring tending to force said bar outward.

15. A device of the kind'described, comprising a stock formed withlaterally-projecting finger-grips, and a pair of opposing arms pivotallysupported ata point between their ends upon said stock, in combinationwith a longitudinally-slidable wed ge-bar having one end positionedbetween the inner ends of said arms and means for sliding said bar.

l6. Adevice of the kind described, comprising a stock, and a pair ofarms pivotally supported at a point between their ends near one end ofthe stock and detachable therefrom, in combination with alongitudinally-movable wedge-bar partly contained within said stock, astop to limit the outward movement of said bar, and a spring arranged tonormally vtend to resiliently force said bar outward, the inner end ofthe bar being positioned between the inner ends of said arms, wherebyupon forcing the bar inward the inner ends of the arms are forced apartand the outer ends are forced toward each other.

17. A device of thekind described, comprising a stock, a pair of armspivotally and detachably supported upon said stock near one end thereofby means of bosses formed upon the arms at apoint between their endsengaging with inwardly-opening hook-shaped recesses formed in the stock,and a movable block provided with inclined faces, resiliently pressedagainst the inner ends of the arms, tending to prevent the disengagementof the arms from said stock and also to force the inner ends of the armstoward each other, in combination with means for controlling the lateralmovements of the arms.

18. A device of the kind'described, comprising a stock, a pair of armspivotally and detaehably supported upon'said stock near one end thereofby means of bosses formed upon the arms at a point between their endsengaging with inwardly-opening hook-shaped recesses formed in the stock,and a movable block provided with inclined faces, resiliently pressedagainst the inner ends of the arms, tending to prevent the disengagementof the arms from the stock and also to force the inner ends of the armstogether, in combination with a longitudinally-movable wedge-bar partlycontained within the stock, with its inner end extending through saidblock and po sitioned to slide between the inner ends of said arms.

19. A device-of the kind described,'-comprising a stock provided atoneend with means for detachably and pivotallysupporting a pair of armsat a point between their ends, at the other end with a longitudinallymovable wedge-bar provided with a stop to limit the outward movementthereof, a spring arranged upon said bar to resiliently force the sameoutward, an automatic lock arranged to engage said bar in any positionand prevent its out-ward movement, means for releasing said bar fromsaid lock, and a movable block arranged within the stock resilientlypressed against the innerends of the arms presenting an inclined surfaceto the outer face of the end ofeaeh arm, whereby the arms are normallypressed longitudinally of the stock and their inner ends are pressedtoward-each other, in combination witha plurality-of interchangeablepairs of opposing arms each-pairadapted to be pivotally and detachablysupported in the end of the stock with their inner ends embracing theinner end of the wedge-bar, whereby upon forcing said bar inward theinner ends of the arms are forced apart and the outer ends are forcedtoward each other.

20. In a device of the kind described, the stock provided atone end witha pair of oppositely -disposed and inwardly --extending' hook-likeshoulders, in combination with a pair of opposing arms comprising a pairof levers partly extending into the stock and provided withcorresponding shoulders located at a point between their ends, wherebythe armsmay be loosely and pivotally engaged with the shoulders, andmeans for controlling the movement of the inner-ends of the levers.

21. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, a pair-of armspivotally and detaehably supported upon said stock near one end thereofby means of bosses formed upon the arms at a point between their endsengaging with inwardly-opening recesses formed in said stock, and amovable block resiliently pressed against the inner ends of the armstending to prevent the disengagement of the arms from said stock, incombination with a longitudinally-movable wedge-.barpartly containedwithin the stock, with its inner end positioned to slide between theinner ends of the arms, a spring tending to force said bar outward, anda lock to prevent the outward movement of said bar.

22. A device of the kind described, comprising a stock, a pair of armspivotally and detachably supported upon said stock near one end thereofby means-of bosses formed upon the arms at a point between their endsengaging with inwardly-open'ing hook-shaped recesses formed in thestock, and a movable block provided with inclined faces, resilientlypressed against the inner ends of the arms, tending to prevent thedisengagement of the arms from the stock and also to force the innerends of the arms together, in combination with a longitudinally movablewedge-bar partly contained within the stock, with its inner endpositioned to slide between the inner ends of the arms, a spring tendingto force said bar outward, and a lock to pre- Vent the outward movementof said bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing wltnesses.

THOMAS C. HUTCHINSON.

Witnesses:

R. ALGYER,

CHRISTINE PETERSON.

